My release date from prison was one of the most painful days of my life. While it should have been a day of rejoicing, happiness, and praise, it was a bittersweet moment. I was finally going home, but I was leaving behind friends who would never see that day for themselves.
The truth is, many of the men I left behind were convicted of lesser crimes than mine but were given life sentences. I understand that, especially during election season, prison reform might not be a priority for many. However, mandatory minimum sentences for federal drug laws, which should have been tried in state courts, have led to harsher sentences and mass incarceration.
I struggled to understand a judicial system that imposes long sentences under the guise of stricter laws to deter criminal behavior, even at the cost of destroying families and communities. During my time in prison, I heard many cases that made my stomach turn. Undercover agents approached drug addicts, encouraged them to find drugs, and then arrested and charged with conspiracy with intent to distribute.
This process was a common practice during the so-called war on drugs. Individuals were often led to seek out crack cocaine dealers because it carried stiffer penalties. Once they helped make an arrest, they, too, were arrested and charged. Many of the men I met in prison were more victims than perpetrators, yet society labeled them as habitual criminals.
What’s even more heartbreaking is that many of them are veterans who turned to drugs, not criminals as they were perceived. A young veteran once told me, “Don’t put me in the class with convicts who chose to break the law and ended up in prison. We’re not the same.” I would agree. I, like so many others, broke the law and chose my path, but it doesn’t excuse the fact that we served our country and were left out to dry. I’m not seeking pity for veterans who are now homeless, but I ask for compassion and support.
These are trying times, and while we face many challenges, prison reform cannot be ignored. Our prisons are too big to fail, not because they deter crime but because they are profitable. We must do better if we are to be a nation of the free. I ask you to look into your hearts and do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Let us take a more conscious look at prison reform and find better ways to support ex-offenders returning home from prison and our veterans, the men, and women who stood in harm’s way to afford us the freedom we now take for granted.
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